There are many vegetarian eateries in Singapore who serves traditional Chinese food fare. Themed vegetarian food eateries are rare. About four years ago, there was Zen Japanese Vegetarian restaurant at Middle Plaza. Unfortunately, Middle Plaza went en- bloc and there goes Singapore’s only Japanese vegetarian restaurant. Out of the ashes, about three years ago, Bespoken comes into the Singapore vegetarian scene with a Japanese themed vegetarian food again.

Bespoken positions itself as an up-market vegetarian restaurant. This is most apparent in its sleek modernist decorations and furniture. The main dining area was bathed in warm lighting and can accommodate 10 tables. Bespoken also furnishes a nearby unit with traditional tatami mat.

We have recently dined at Bespoken on 2 separate occasions and like to share our impressions of the food we have ordered. The prices at Bespoken are high thus we hope our review can direct you to the dishes with the best values at Bespoken.

Unagi Maki

We are delighted with the Unagi Maki which is traditionally an eel sushi roll in a conventional Japanese eatery. Fried mock fish doused liberally with soy sauce was used instead. Interestingly Bespoken replaces the cucumber with Avocado. This results in the sushi literally melting in the mouth.

Quality: 5/5
Price: $12

Mixed Vegetarian Meat Bento Set

Mixed Vegetarian Meat Bento Set is Bespoken’s attempt to blend Chinese and Japanese cuisine into a single dish. As the set consists of many side dishes, we shall start from the bottom in an anti clockwise direction. The Japanese tofu is adequately deep fried in cornstarch. However there is only one piece of it. The vegetables is cooked in typically Chinese Zi Char style. The vegetables do not have much taste probably because the rest of the side dishes are more salty. Next comes the deep fried mock meat cutlet and prawn. Finally, there is one more full slice of mock white fish doused in soy sauce. Besides the Miso soup, the set has radish salad with peanut sauce which turns out to be quite salty and green tea mousse with a buttery taste. In the end, we think that this dish does not deliver the value for the 32 bucks.

Quality: 3/5
Price: $32

Kaki Udon

One word. Salty. We can emphasise with Bespoken that there was not much ingredients you can use to make authentic Japanese food but the prevalent use of MSG and soy sauce is way too much for all its dishes. The texture of Udon noodles is alright. The saving grace of this noodle dish is the beancurd skin liberally sprinkled all over the dish.

Quality: 3.5/5
Price: $9

Buck Wheat Noodles Set

As there are many small dishes within the set, we will start our review from the bottom in an anti-clockwise direction. The radish salad is the same as what have introduced in Mixed Vegetarian Meat Bento Set. The buck wheat noodle is similar to Kaki Udon except that the buck wheat noodles are thinner than the Udon. The buck wheat noodle is still as salty. We love the taste of the mango pudding with Nata de coco. The Sushi has mock Sashimi as its fillings, of which you can eat them with ginger slices. The mixed vegetables are cooked clay-pot style. Since the rest are salty, we find the taste of the mixed vegetables rather bland. The sliced mock meat cutlet is quite alright if not uninspired.

Quality: 3.5/5
Price: $18

Conclusion:

Bespoken represents an unique dining experience for vegetarians in Singapore. But we are sure you will want to get the best value for the high prices you are paying at Bespoken. In our opinion, you should avoid the set meals (with exception of the vegetarian fish teriyaki set) and just order the noodles and sushi. Unagi Maki and Kaki Udon will be great choices.

Sunshine Plaza is located about 2 bus stops away from the nearby Bugis MRT. The quickest way is to walk to the plaza from Bugis MRT.